The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends Canadians avoid all non-essential travel to areas affected by the current Ebola virus outbreak.

In an updated travel advisory Thursday, the agency says Canadians should avoid going to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone.

“This recommendation is designed to protect Canadian travellers and make it easier for health officials in these countries to dedicate their resources towards controlling the outbreak,” the advisory says. “Although the risk remains low, travellers could face difficulties accessing health-care services from an increasingly burdened health-care system.”

The U.S. has also advised travellers against all non-essential travel to the three countries.

For those who have to go to the region, the agency recommends visiting a doctor six weeks before travelling, then when in the countries, avoiding direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of people with Ebola, avoid close contact with animals, practise strict handwashing routines and know the symptoms of Ebola.